Arunachal BJP meet today to pick next CM; Khandu set to be retained

BJP lawmakers will meet in Itanagar to elect their legislative party leader in the presence of the party chief JP Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah

Published on: Jun 12, 2024, 11:20:47 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Arunachal Pradesh’s newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers will meet in Itanagar on Wednesday to elect their legislative party leader in the presence of the party chief JP Nadda, Union home minister Amit Shah and the national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh.

Pema Khandu, who took over as the chief minister in 2016, was set to be retained for the post for continuity. (X)

People aware of the matter said Pema Khandu, who took over as the chief minister in 2016, was set to be retained for the post for continuity. The new legislative party leader was expected to be sworn in with his council of ministers on Thursday.

BJP state chief Biyuram Wahge said Nadda, Shah, and Santosh were expected to arrive in Itanagar at 7:30pm on Wednesday ahead of the meeting of the newly-elected lawmakers.

The BJP returned to power in Arunachal Pradesh, bagging 46 of the 60 seats, on June 2. National Peoples’ Party (NPP), a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), got five seats, the Nationalist Congress three, the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) two, and Congress one. The BJP also retained the two Lok Sabha seats in Arunachal Pradesh.

BJP spokesperson Techi Necha said the swearing-in ceremony will take place at 3pm on Thursday. Nadda, Shah, Santosh, and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convener of the North East Democratic Alliance, will be among those who will attend the event.

NPP has offered support to the BJP government but the party is unlikely to get representation in the new Cabinet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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